Eradicating the bad shots

[timd77]

Chatting to a mate of mine today, looking at some of my recent scores, and he commented how well I’m playing at the moment. He’s basing that off the rounds we’ve played together and the counting scores on whs. The real story is that I can play well one week, loving golf, thinking I’ve got it sorted, score low 80s even a 79. The next week I’m scoring high 80s, hitting bad shots but somehow getting some sort of score together. My handicap isn’t really coming down because of that inconsistency.

It got me thinking, how do I get rid of those shots where, afterwards you’re thinking ‘what the hell was that? Where did that come from?’

Is it all down to practicing and grinding? Set up? Focus?

Any tips on what you might’ve done in the past that worked for you?

 

[Neilds]

For me, it is not so much eradicating the bad shots, more making sure that I don’t make the situation worse with the next shot. Play the sensible shot and get the ball back in play. Don’t turn a bogey into a double.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I score higher than you but I have become more consistent. In effect, same position as you, just move the numbers up a bit.

Probably the biggest thing was I dropped the really big scores by playing more percentage shots, accept the 1 in 8 shot is bad odds and don't do it. Surprising what a difference that makes.

I also try to concentrate more on the shot I'm playing. Sometimes I just walk up and hit it, often doesn't end well. I force myself to think of the shot, whether long or a putt, and concentrate for those few seconds. That reduces the number of sloppy shots, the wasteful ones which really are avoidable. I don't do this all of the time, it hurts my head , but the more I can, the fewer shots I waste.

 

[pendodave]

Chatting to a mate of mine today, looking at some of my recent scores, and he commented how well I’m playing at the moment. He’s basing that off the rounds we’ve played together and the counting scores on whs. The real story is that I can play well one week, loving golf, thinking I’ve got it sorted, score low 80s even a 79. The next week I’m scoring high 80s, hitting bad shots but somehow getting some sort of score together. My handicap isn’t really coming down because of that inconsistency.

It got me thinking, how do I get rid of those shots where, afterwards you’re thinking ‘what the hell was that? Where did that come from?’

Is it all down to practicing and grinding? Set up? Focus?

Any tips on what you might’ve done in the past that worked for you?

A ten shot range seems like pretty consistent golf to me!
While the advice about taking punishment is definitely a good place to start, I'd say that it's more important to realise that unless you're on the telly, this is what golf looks like. Managing expectations is (for me) the most important part of enjoying golf. Also, as part of that, have an idea what "normal" golf looks like (everyone thinks that they should hole every 4ft putt they look at). If you really want to get better, make a note of your stats and see if any part of your game really is "inconsistent" against data for your handicap range and work on improving it. It's probably not what you think it is.

 

[Orikoru]

There are so many things that can affect how well you play. Did you sleep well or not? Did you eat enough beforehands and was it the right kind of food to sustain you? Drink enough water? Was your mental state different, i.e. expectations too high?

Last weekend I had rounds on Friday and Saturday that I was looking forward to as I was playing with people I don't often play with as much - I played pants in both of them. Lost my swing completely at times. But that is common for me, the more I look forward to a round, the more I want to play well and the worse I play. The best rounds are when expectations are at zero. I went out for a practice on Tuesday night and played vastly better, since there's absolutely nothing on it. It's annoying because I feel like I can't look forward to anything, I have to try and pretend to myself that I don't care.

It's a hard game. Some days you've got it and other days you don't have it at all. For me that's something that's really hard to accept, because I get annoyed when I don't play to the standard I'm capable of, but I have no choice, that's just the way it is. When even a tour pro can go from shooting 76 one day and 65 the next, you have to hold your hands up and say consistency is a pipe dream.

 

[timd77]

For me, it is not so much eradicating the bad shots, more making sure that I don’t make the situation worse with the next shot. Play the sensible shot and get the ball back in play. Don’t turn a bogey into a double.

I score higher than you but I have become more consistent. In effect, same position as you, just move the numbers up a bit.

Probably the biggest thing was I dropped the really big scores by playing more percentage shots, accept the 1 in 8 shot is bad odds and don't do it. Surprising what a difference that makes.

I also try to concentrate more on the shot I'm playing. Sometimes I just walk up and hit it, often doesn't end well. I force myself to think of the shot, whether long or a putt, and concentrate for those few seconds. That reduces the number of sloppy shots, the wasteful ones which really are avoidable. I don't do this all of the time, it hurts my head , but the more I can, the fewer shots I waste.

You both make very good points about the bad shots not being compounded by bad follow up decisions.

Just went through last week’s scorecard, it was an 85 so not too bad. But I had 2 triples. 1 of them was pretty unlucky, I ended up against a tree, bad bounce, probably just one of those things that happens.

The other triple was all down to a bad drive (unusual for me as I’m usually ok with driver), pulled into the rough on a long par 4. I had 220ish left, I took out my hybrid with the intention of getting it as far up as possible. Ended up thinning it into a fairway bunker. Actually played a lovely iron out of there, but my wedge into the green was a bit long and I 3 putted from there. So had I have just taken an 8 iron for my second shot out of the rough, I’d have probably had a wedge in, and likely made a bogey or a double at worst.

Yes, taking my medicine is a must. I used to do that but as I’ve got better I seem to have started to think I can play all the shots, when in reality I can’t.

 

[irip]

I think the biggest problem we have as amateurs is we expect to score or play our best every time we play.
If you actually said your average score was 85 and that’s what you expect to play to then the bad rounds of an 89 you can normally pick out the shot or 2 that cost you and vice versa when you score an 81.

 

[The Squirrel]

Watch ‘golf is hard’ on YouTube (it’s the best thing the PGAT produces). Then remember that these people are the top 0.000000001% and infinitely more talented than all of us at golf AND get to practice golf all day as their job. Then they still do this…

 

[IanM]

Better quality thinking.

My 21 handicap buddy takes on shots he has no business trying. 11th hole at Newport is a narrow dog leg, completely tee lined and there's a ditch, pond and ob for good measure.

It's not long, I played it yesterday rescue club off the tee, same club onto the green, two putts.

He always takes driver, which ends up in trouble nearly every time. He's putting pressure on himself before he starts, leading to all sorts of numbers. Will he listen? Of course not.

 

[Burnsey]

It is actually really simple and something I have subscribed to, but so easy to not do.

Concentrate.

Might sound daft, but I rush. Relax, look at the shot, stand over, do your pre shot routine and just check all the basics are right.

Works for me and yes, I still rush the odd one and duff.

 

[timd77]

I do have a set pre-shot routine, I have a practice swing on every shot which I do to try and get that weird bad swing out of the way. Just doesn’t always work.

Reading the replies and thinking about it, I need to make better decisions, especially when out of position, but I also need to start keeping a track of my bad shots.

I had a few lessons in the winter and the first thing he asked was what are my typical bad shots, I couldn’t really answer. So think I need to keep a log of the bad shots, see whether it’s the same thing every time (unlikely), whether it’s a bad decision, 3 putting etc.

 

[Burnsey]

@timd77

I too have a pre-shot routine, but it becomes second nature and I don't actually always concentrate what I am actually doing.

I focus for the 80 odd times it takes me to get round if I can.

 

[Orikoru]

I do have a set pre-shot routine, I have a practice swing on every shot which I do to try and get that weird bad swing out of the way. Just doesn’t always work.

Reading the replies and thinking about it, I need to make better decisions, especially when out of position, but I also need to start keeping a track of my bad shots.

I had a few lessons in the winter and the first thing he asked was what are my typical bad shots, I couldn’t really answer. So think I need to keep a log of the bad shots, see whether it’s the same thing every time (unlikely), whether it’s a bad decision, 3 putting etc.

I will play Devil's advocate a little bit though - people talk about 'taking your medicine' like it's impossible to cock that shot up as well, but we all know it's not. Occasionally you want to take a slight calculated risk if the chances of pay-off are decent. Every situation has to be assessed. e.g. you've got two gaps, one smaller and one larger - 'taking your medicine' will say go for the bigger gap, but if you still think you have a good chance of getting through the smaller gap, and that will leave you wedge into the green instead of 7 iron, then I think it's fair enough to go for it. You can't play a whole round taking no risks at all.

 

[irip]

I will play Devil's advocate a little bit though - people talk about 'taking your medicine' like it's impossible to cock that shot up as well, but we all know it's not. Occasionally you want to take a slight calculated risk if the chances of pay-off are decent. Every situation has to be assessed. e.g. you've got two gaps, one smaller and one larger - 'taking your medicine' will say go for the bigger gap, but if you still think you have a good chance of getting through the smaller gap, and that will leave you wedge into the green instead of 7 iron, then I think it's fair enough to go for it. You can't play a whole round taking no risks at all.

I agree that taking your medicine is not always the best option.
It also depends on your own strengths and weaknesses.
It’s about finding the right balance.
It also depends on how your round is going and if it’s a competition or a bounce game.
Even what format you’re playing.
Not much point trying to play safe rather than taking a risk if it’s match play and your opponent has got a 6 foot birdie putt.
In a medal though then often the safe play is the sensible one.

 

[timd77]

Yeh, totally agree about being able to mess those up too.

Our 3rd is stroke index 2, but everyone I know thinks it should be SI1. Very tight, cabbage to the left, slopes hard left to right, out of bounds 5-6 yards right of the fairway and 15 yards past the green. Total nightmare in the summer with the roll. There’s so much that can go wrong with every shot until your last putt.

You often end up either on the left blocked out, or on the right with some overhanging trees and not the best lie (due to not enough light). The decision is do I chip it 40-50 yards to the fairway and have a wedge in, or do I punch one 150 yards and hope to get near the green. I rarely succeed in either and so might as well just try and get it as far up as you can.

But in the scenario I mentioned earlier, thick rough 220 yards out, no real danger other than a fairway bunker, an 8 iron was definitely the play. I’ll try to be strict with myself on that in future. It’s just when you get there and think ‘I can’t get a hybrid on that’ it’s hard to convince yourself to play safe!

 

[Orikoru]

Yeh, totally agree about being able to mess those up too.

Our 3rd is stroke index 2, but everyone I know thinks it should be SI1. Very tight, cabbage to the left, slopes hard left to right, out of bounds 5-6 yards right of the fairway and 15 yards past the green. Total nightmare in the summer with the roll. There’s so much that can go wrong with every shot until your last putt.

You often end up either on the left blocked out, or on the right with some overhanging trees and not the best lie (due to not enough light). The decision is do I chip it 40-50 yards to the fairway and have a wedge in, or do I punch one 150 yards and hope to get near the green. I rarely succeed in either and so might as well just try and get it as far up as you can.

But in the scenario I mentioned earlier, thick rough 220 yards out, no real danger other than a fairway bunker, an 8 iron was definitely the play. I’ll try to be strict with myself on that in future. It’s just when you get there and think ‘I can’t get a hybrid on that’ it’s hard to convince yourself to play safe!

Just another reason why golf is a mental minefield. Sometimes you'll tell yourself you made the wrong decision, but in fact it might have been the right decision you just executed it really badly.